Uncle Chen slowly let out another long breath, as though trying to calm himself. Yet when he turned to Lin Jing, his lips were still trembling despite his efforts at restraint. He seemed to want to say something, but his throat appeared to be blocked. He opened his mouth several times, but no sound came out.
After a long while, he finally forced out a nearly broken whisper. “The little prince… You’re safe and sound. You’re safe and sound…”
Before he could finish, he was already choking back sobs.
The moment Lin Wu heard that form of address, she rose almost instinctively and moved sideways to shield Lin Jing, clasping his small hand with one hand while keeping him behind her.
When Shen Guanting heard the words “the little prince,” his fingertips trembled faintly as well. Although the child’s identity had long since been confirmed, hearing the title spoken aloud before him still left him somewhat dazed.
He rose too, and without revealing his intentions, stepped in front of the two of them.
Seeing their reaction, Uncle Chen froze for a moment. Then he gave a wry smile, though a trace of relief appeared in his eyes. “Please don’t take offense. I lost control of myself.”
He raised a hand to his cheek and felt around his face with his fingertips. From either side of his nose, around his eyes, and at the corners of his mouth, he peeled off several flesh-colored pieces one by one.
As he did so, Lin Wu and Lin Jing’s eyes widened little by little.
The face beneath was thin and pallid, with sharply protruding cheekbones and deeply sunken eye sockets. Clearly, he had endured much suffering. He was only in his early forties, yet most of the hair at his temples had already turned gray.
Those clear, gentle eyes now brimmed with tears as they fixed themselves on Lin Jing.
“Grand Tutor Uncle!” Lin Jing poked his little body out from behind Lin Wu and threw himself forward.
Chen Shugu crouched down and gathered Lin Jing into his arms. “The little prince… I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime…”
He patted Lin Jing’s back, but his fingers were trembling.
It was only after everyone had gradually composed themselves that Chen Shugu slowly recounted the dangers he had faced.
He owed his escape entirely to an unremarkable physician named Liang Jimin.
He had once done the Liang family a kindness. Chen Shugu was an upright and benevolent man, and he had helped countless people throughout his life. The Liang family was merely one among them. Who could have imagined that this unintentional act of kindness, planted years ago, would one day save his life?
Liang Jimin had come from humble beginnings. For three generations, his ancestors had been itinerant doctors who traveled the streets and alleys. But in his generation, an exceptional talent had emerged. From childhood, he had followed his father in practicing medicine and possessed remarkable gifts. However, he had little interest in proper medical texts and was particularly fond of studying unorthodox methods—poisonous insect bites, conflicting medicinal herbs, and ways of using poison to counter poison.
By a strange twist of fate, he later passed the examination to enter the Imperial Medical Academy. Even among his colleagues, he was an oddity, obsessed with the obscure fields of toxicology and autopsies. His specialty was examining corpses that had died from poisoning and identifying all kinds of toxins. From time to time, he also handled poison-related matters for the imperial palace.
The assignment he received during that catastrophe was to deliver poisoned wine to Chen Shugu. Whether it had been some twist of fate—or Liang Jimin’s own doing—no one could say.
As the Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince, Chen Shugu was a leading official among the civil ministers. Though he had been closely affiliated with the Eastern Palace, he was still granted the dignity of retaining his entire body. In other words, he was given poisoned wine rather than being beheaded.
That day, Liang Jimin entered carrying a cup of wine. The once elegant and refined Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince had been tormented for only a month, yet he had been reduced to skin and bones, almost unrecognizable.
Liang Jimin handed him the cup. Chen Shugu took it without even looking at him and tipped back his head to drink.
When he awoke again, he was already in the Liang family’s woodshed.
Not long afterward, Liang Jimin was accused of having “maintained excessively close ties with the Eastern Palace.” He was ultimately dismissed from office and stripped of his position, after which he returned to his hometown, taking Chen Shugu with him all the way out of the capital.
At this point, Chen Shugu’s voice grew quieter. “He saved me to repay an old kindness. But in doing so, he sacrificed his own future and entire livelihood.”
As Lin Wu listened, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the tea room.
To outsiders, Liang Jimin—who appeared honest and plainspoken—and his sharp-tongued son, Liang Peilan, seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary family. Who could have imagined that, amid such a bloody storm, they had dared to deceive the heavens and change fate, rescuing the Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince?
Then again, someone who was so fond of researching toxicology and other unorthodox subjects was clearly not quite like ordinary people.
Chen Shugu turned and bowed deeply to Lin Wu. “Mrs. Lin, words cannot express my gratitude. You protected this child and kept him safe, peaceful, and carefree all these years. Please accept this bow from me.”
Lin Wu hurriedly rose and supported him. “Junior Tutor, please don’t do this. His Highness and Her Highness once showed me kindness, so protecting him is simply my duty. Besides, since I brought him out with me, I could never abandon him afterward.”
At her words, Shen Guanting’s gaze fell upon Lin Wu without drawing attention.
This might be the only truthful glimpse she had ever offered of her past. “His Highness and Her Highness”… Could she have belonged to the Eastern Palace?
Chen Shugu paused faintly. “So you are an old acquaintance. There were so many people in the Eastern Palace that this old man never had the chance to know them all. Only today have I learned that there was such a loyal and righteous person among them. Mrs. Lin, you make ‘my duty’ sound so simple. Yet in this world, how many people can truly remember another person’s kindness—and repay it with their actions?”
With that, he turned to Shen Guanting. “Young Master Shen, the care you have shown the Chen family is a debt of kindness we will never forget.”
Shen Guanting smiled. “Junior Tutor, you give me too much credit. Whenever my younger brother Wangdi sees me in Southern Cliff, he has the word ‘thanks’ hanging from his lips. I’ve nearly grown calluses on my ears. If you thank me again, I really will have to hide somewhere.”
Hearing this, Chen Shugu made no further polite refusals and simply gave him a solemn cupped-fist salute.
Shen Guanting’s smile faded as he asked seriously, “What do you intend to do now, Junior Tutor? Do you plan to find a way to go to Southern Cliff?”
Chen Shugu slowly shook his head. “Young Master Shen, you are too kind. If the two of you do not object, simply call me Uncle Chen from now on. There is no need to mention the title of Junior Tutor anymore.”
His gaze shifted to Lin Jing, and his expression softened. “As for Southern Cliff, it would be inappropriate for me to go there so rashly. They already have you looking after them, which is a blessing in itself. Now that I know the little prince is safe and sound, and that my family is settled, there is nothing left weighing on my heart.”
He drew a deep breath. His formerly pallid face suddenly seemed to regain some vitality, like a withered tree coming back to life, or a long-sick patient finally beginning to recover.
“For now, I still intend to remain in Huzhou. Since I am now an old servant of the Liang family, it would not be right for me to leave.”
Shen Guanting nodded. “That sounds fine. If you ever need help, do not hesitate to ask. Here in Huzhou, the Shen family can still lend a hand.”
Chen Shugu gave him another solemn cupped-fist salute. “Thank you, Young Master Shen.”
Before they parted, he crouched down and gently rubbed Lin Jing’s little head. His voice was warm. “The little prince…”
He paused, then changed his address with a smile. “I should call you A Jing now. Since you have been granted such an opportunity, follow Mrs. Lin and grow up well. If there is ever anything you do not understand or cannot figure out, you may come find me at any time. I may not be good for much else, but I can always keep you company and tell you stories or teach you from books.”
This Mrs. Lin was a rare woman of clarity and understanding. It could be no better for the little prince to grow up under her care.
“Mm!” Lin Jing nodded his little head vigorously. “If Uncle wants to find A Jing, you can come to the morning market stall or the academy too. On my rest days, I go with A-Wu to set up a stall and sell pastries. On days when I don’t have a break, I study at the academy.”
It was as though he had remembered something, and he added, “My teacher is Master Yun Jianshan. He’s incredibly accomplished! And he didn’t even charge me tuition when he took me on as a student. Oh, and Brother Ting is my senior schoolmate. Whenever we write to Nan’ya, Brother Ting helps us deliver the letters.”
As he spoke, he turned his head toward Shen Guanting.
Shen Guanting smiled and picked up the thread. “It’s on my way. If Uncle Chen has any letters to send, just bring them to Jizhen Pavilion and let me know.”
Chen Shugu was stunned, and his eyes grew slightly moist. “Thank you. A Jing is truly blessed, to have so many good people around him.”
Lin Jing tilted his head as he thought, then suddenly smiled. “I know. That’s why I’m doing so well now. And now that Uncle is in Huzhou and by my side, I’ll be even better.”
As he spoke, he reached into the little cloth pouch he carried and pulled out a jade-soul bookmark. He always kept one with him, since he often had to promote them and took them wherever he went.
He held the bookmark out to Chen Shugu. “A Wu and I made these jade-soul bookmarks. One sells for fifty wen, but at Jizhen Pavilion, one can sell for two guan. I gave one each to Brother Wang, Sister Qing, and Brother Jue. This one is for you, Uncle.”
Chen Shugu accepted it, his eyes curving into a smile. The child before him was still as sincere and well-behaved as ever, just like the Crown Prince in his childhood. Yet on closer thought, he was different too. This child was more outgoing and more spirited, like a young seedling reaching for the sun.
That was good. Better this way.
“Thank you, A Jing.” He carefully tucked the bookmark into his robe.
After watching Chen Shugu’s figure disappear through the doorway, Lin Wu withdrew her gaze and turned to Shen Guanting beside her.
“Once again, I’ve imposed on you, Young Master Shen.” She gave him a slight bow. “If there’s ever anything I can do for you in the future, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I’ll remember that, Shopkeeper Lin.” Shen Guanting nodded, accepting her thanks without the slightest hesitation. Then he looked at her with an amused, meaningful smile. “Though there is one thing for the future. Could you stop calling me ‘Young Master Shen’ whenever we’re together? It sounds rather distant.”
Lin Wu was taken aback and began to think seriously.
What should she call Shen Guanting? For a moment, she truly couldn’t think of anything. Lin Jing called him “Brother Ting,” and he was Lin Jing’s senior schoolmate, but she was plainly A Jing’s mother. By seniority, she ought to be his elder.
Yet the forms of address among them had long since become a complete muddle. Tigerhead and the others called her “Sister” and called Lin Jing “Brother Jing.” What about Shen Guanting? He had never called her “Auntie,” nor had he followed Tigerhead’s example and called her “Sister.”
After thinking for a while, she ventured, “Young Master Shen has a point. I was being discourteous. Since you’re A Jing’s senior schoolmate, I suppose you ought to call me Auntie, while I call you Young Lord Shen?”
Young Lord Shen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He was clearly dissatisfied with that form of address.
Reading his expression, Lin Wu tried another option. “Since Sparrow and Tigerhead call me Sister, and I’m two years older than you, I’ll be presumptuous and have you call me Sister as well. Then I’ll call you Little Brother?”
Little Brother Shen drawled, “Shopkeeper Lin, I’m twenty-three this year. So the title of ‘Sister’ is best left for Tigerhead and the others to use.”
Lin Wu looked at him suspiciously. She distinctly remembered that this young master had only just come of age this year. Even with New Year’s Day the day after tomorrow, he could be no more than twenty-one. Where had he gotten twenty-three from?
She quickly realized that he was deliberately quibbling with her.
She claimed to be twenty-two in public, so he was claiming to be twenty-three just to put himself one year above her.
But her life experience far exceeded that of an ordinary twenty-two-year-old, so she felt not the slightest bit guilty about calling herself twenty-two.
Seeing her troubled expression, Shen Guanting considerately said, “From now on, just call me Guanting. If Shopkeeper Lin finds that inappropriate, Shen Guanting will do as well. Either way, it sounds better than Young Master Shen.”
Lin Wu nodded readily. “Since I’m A Jing’s mother, I suppose that makes me your elder, so calling you Guanting is perfectly appropriate. It is a little disrespectful, though, so I hope Young Mas—” She corrected herself. “I hope Guanting won’t take offense.”
Shen Guanting gave a soft huff and repeated meaningfully, “Your elder.”
Lin Wu simply pretended not to hear the implication and calmly looked away.
Shen Guanting saw this elder who had taken advantage of the situation and was still acting pleased with herself out of Jizhen Pavilion. Only after the two figures, one large and one small, disappeared around the corner did he turn and head back inside.
He returned to the tearoom and slowly sat down. Raising his cup, he took a sip of the tea, which had already gone cold.
The bustle of the street outside drifted faintly through the door. Leaning back in his chair, he suddenly felt somewhat dazed.
What had happened today was truly beyond anyone’s expectations. Huzhou really was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers gathered.
He wondered how long these peaceful days would last.
That night, Lin Jing curled up beside Lin Wu, his small body nestled against her as he murmured, “It’s so good that we got to see Uncle Chen again.”
Lin Wu was lost in thought as well.
Since leaving the palace, apart from Zhao Sheng, who was already dead, Grand Tutor Chen was the only old acquaintance they had seen.
She reached out and stroked Lin Jing’s little head. “That’s fate. Tomorrow is the Day of Removal. To meet an old friend at the end of the year, on a day like this—it feels as though Heaven arranged it especially for us.”
Lin Jing lifted his little face. “I know about the Day of Removal. Teacher told me about it. It’s the final day of the last month of winter. The Book of Rites says: ‘In the month of deepest winter, the sun’s course comes to an end, the moon’s cycle reaches its limit, the stars return to the heavens, the counting is nearly complete, and the year is about to begin anew.’”
Listening to him earnestly recite his lesson, Lin Wu couldn’t help smiling. “That’s right. The sun and moon both reach their end on this day. Meeting Uncle Chen on this day is like bringing the matters of the past to a proper close. From here on, it’s a new beginning.”
Lin Jing murmured softly, “The counting is nearly complete; the year is about to begin anew…”
He repeated the words twice, then rested his little head against Lin Wu’s shoulder. His voice gradually faded.
Lin Wu looked down. The little fellow had already closed his eyes.
The day when the moon’s cycle ended and the year drew to a close was also the first Day of Removal they had spent since leaving the palace. Yet their reunion with an old friend today seemed to tell them that the past had not truly vanished.
